Senior Pharmacy Technician, Dispensary Services

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Result Areas & Performance:

Dispensary

1. To organise the provision of all dispensary-based services, including inpatients, controlled drugs and clinical trials to agreed performance targets with guidance and support from the dispensary Lead Pharmacy Technician Dispensary Services and/or the Associate Chief Pharmacy Technician - Patient Services.

2. To deputise for the Lead Pharmacy Technician Dispensary Services in their absence, taking responsibility for the smooth running of the dispensary and resolving problems as they arise.

3. To use the right first-time procedure to manage the quality of dispensing in the dispensary. This will involve reviewing in-process errors and ensuring that actions are taken to address poor performance and reporting progress to the Lead Pharmacy Technician Dispensary Services.

4. To assist the Lead Pharmacy Technician Dispensary Services with good stock control in dispensary, ensuring the efficient use of all resources, keeping waste to a minimum and encouraging the re-use of medicines when appropriate.

5. To cover, where appropriate, the duties of the other senior dispensary staff in their absence.

6. To assist with the preparation of the dispensary rota ensuring that all dispensary duties have sufficient staffing and that any issues are resolved.

7. To provide regular activity and quality monitoring information and to use this information to maintain a quality service.

8. To accurately dispense all prescriptions. Prescription types will include: inpatients; discharges; controlled drugs and clinical trials. This will involve inputting of patients details into the Ascribe computer system and subsequently produce dispensing labels. The label, prescription and product are collected together and assembled. Any additional items such as spoons and bags are also added. The prepared items are checked for accuracy and passed to the pharmacist/accredited pharmacy technician for final checking.

9. To deal with complaints and safety issues, informing the Lead Pharmacy Technician -Dispensary Services at the earliest opportunity.

10. To answer queries, both on the telephone and in person, with medical, nursing staff and seek help from a pharmacist when necessary.

11. To investigate stock level discrepancies within the dispensary in line with current procedures.

12. To assist with/write standard operating procedures for the dispensary.

13. To assist in the distribution of FP10 prescription pads, ensuring secure storage arrangements in the pharmacy and when in use throughout the hospital.

14. To assist with investigations into clinical incidents that occur in the dispensary.

15. To ensure the daily workload for the dispensary is completed and information handed over to the pharmacist responsible for locking-up the department.

16. To organise and conduct dispensary induction and training for staff whenever necessary

17. To manage dispensary workflow and ensuring dispensary Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets are achieved.

18. To investigate and report dispensary incidents

19. To ensure smooth and efficient running of dispensary services, working with the Lead Pharmacy Technician Dispensary Services and other Senior Pharmacy Technicians.

20. To ensure safe management of Controlled Drugs in the dispensary

Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) duties:

1. Complete Accreditation (ACPT) according to CPPE scheme and local ACPT Policy.

2. Conduct checking in dispensary in line with service needs .

3. Provide constructive feedback when informing dispensers that they have made mistakes during dispensing.

4. Report in-process errors using the Right First Time Procedure.

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5. Ensure that your knowledge is up to date by reading all pharmacy procedures relevant to the accuracy checking of dispensed medicines and the ACPT Policy.

6. Contribute to the quality management of dispensing by suggesting improvements to practice and procedures.

7.

Staff Management & Training

1. To line manage staff, including:

a. Regular appraisal of performance and objective setting

b. Identification of training needs, personal development planning and evaluation

c. Ensuring that all human resource policies, procedures and standards are understood and maintained

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Pharmacy Service Skills QCF or equivalent
• Professional registration with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Mandatory CPD to maintain fitness to practice
• Accredited Checking Pharmacy Technician (ACPT) qualification or willing to undertake

Desirable

• GCP training

Experience

Essential

• Post registration experience in hospital pharmacy for at least 1 year or in a community pharmacy for at least 2 years.
• Working within a busy dispensary
• Demonstrable experience of training others

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in Clinical Trials setting
• Supervision of staff

Knowledge

Essential

• Good communication skills, both written and oral, of specialist clinical information.
• Able to make interventions assertively and appropriately
• Ability to work on own initiative and effectively as part of a team both within pharmacy and a multidisciplinary environment
• Ability to prioritise and plan work effectively alone and for a team including the ability to delegate appropriately

Desirable

• Ability to manage difficult and complex issues or refer appropriately.
• A good understanding of Good Clinical Practice

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham

High Street

London

SE13 6LH

Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)